Green Bay Packers Once Were Second Favorites To Win The Super Bowl – Do They Still have a Chance?

2015 was a mixed season for the Packers that ultimately ended in disappointment as they lost the Divisional Playoffs (20-26 in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals) and ended up watching the Super Bowl at home. This year, Green Bay will be hoping to go the extra yard and make it all the way to the Big Game. 888sport initially ranked them as the second favorites to go all the way, behind the New England Patriots. Here we analyse the Packers performances so far this season and what they need to do to make the Super Bowl this season.

The Season So Far

In the 2015 season, the Packers won their first six games on the bounce, which took them up to their bye week, and then lost three games in a row. This season, Green Bay may be pleased to have got a much needed win after their bye week to take their current league record to 3-1. What’s more is that the Packers got an impressive 23-16 win over the New York Giants, who have since gone on a winning streak.

A loss to the Dallas Cowboys followed, but this was somewhat expected due to the excellent season the Cowboys are having, unbeaten since their first game. Similarly, a decisive victory over the Chicago Bears was expected, the Bears are in dire form having only picked up two wins all season. That win against the Bears has since been followed by three consecutive defeats against the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans. This leaves the Packers with a disappointing 4-5 record and they currently sit third in their conference and 12th in their division, six places outside the Wild Card playoff places.

The Games Ahead

Right now things aren’t looking so hot for the team who were initially listed second favorites for the Super Bowl. The good news is that there is still time to turn the season around, there are seven games left of the regular season and the Packers need to pick up some consecutive wins. Hopefully that can start this weekend when they take on the Washington Redskins. After ten games, the Redskins have a record this season of 5-3-1 after their game against Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley finished in a draw and they beat the reeling Vikings last week.

Key Players

Aaron Rodgers, who has spent his entire career at Green Bay, has been the star man for the Packers once again. So far, the quarterback has achieved 2410 passing yards, 371 of which came in the Titans game alone. Rodgers has also achieved 22 passing touchdowns and 3 rushing touchdowns for his team. Wide receivers, Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson have also been in stunning form for Green Bay so far, with Nelson achieving 635 receiving yards across the season while Adams has 621. Running back, Eddie Lacy has made 360 rushing yards across the season, 103 of which were against the Detroit Lions.

When you boil it all down, the Packers have not been firing on all cylinders, but if they can get healthy, still have the quality players to help them go all the way this season.

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Anyone who thinks the Packers season is over isn’t a Packers fan and should move on and find another team. Hopefully we can get a winning streak started this Sunday night and build on it. One game at a time folks.McCarthy isn’t going anywhere and anyone who thinks that will solve all our problems is wrong.We need to get healthy which is next to impossible this time of the season. Look around. Every team is injury plagued to a certain extent. We can hope to get some key p[layers back in our secondary for starters. With out a doubt this has been the most glaring fault of our defense. Our front seven had 15 sacks in the first four games. Losing Mathews for a month truly hurt our front seven. He ‘s a leader and makes others players better.The next two games in prime time will I believe determine the HEART of this years team. I hope we get Mathews back this Sunday and Shields and Randall also. People have to show up and want to play to WIN. GO PACK GO!!!!

Nick Perry

James normally I share your optimism but this team is 8-11 in it’s last 19 regular season games, this IS the Packers. Those same “Key Players” injured this season couldn’t get it done last season either. The Packers have given up an average of 37 points per game the last 3 weeks. Getting Matthews and Randall back wouldn’t/won’t help that much, npot 37 points worth.

This team lacks explosiveness. They don’t have it at the WR, RB, or TE position and didn’t at the start of the season and most certainly don’t have it now. Thompson had drafted mostly defense the last few drafts and it’s weakened the offense. You’d think by now the Packers would have a pretty good defense, at least a defense that could pressure the QB…WRONG!

I’m a Packers Fan through and through, I’ve just taken off by Green and Gold glasses and put on my real ones. I see a team that’s very average with a QB who can no longer hide all the problem areas. Give him some weapons like he had in previous years then maybe. But the problem with “Getting Weapons” is they have to be developed. By the time they draft & develop a new class, the previous classes have either busted, been injured, or moved on. Seems like a pretty vicious cycle to me. It’s one our current GM can’t get us out of simply because he refuses to use 2/3rds of the ways he can build a team.

NO ONE would be happier to eat their own words but me. I’d love to bring up this post at the end of the season and laugh about it as the Packers win #14. I just don’t thinks it’s possible, not with this current team, GM, and coaching staff. The sad part is McCarthy will be given another year because of the injuries and it will be a wasted year.

James C. Drumheller III

Well will see how this season plays out. The last time we picked in the top ten of the draft we drafted Raji at ninth and then moved up to 26th I believe to get Mathews. We’re always drafting at 27 and 59 and so on. There aren’t many blue chip players left after the first round. I read where someone said trade Rodgers for draft picks. That’s just insane!!! I’m a frustrated Packers fan who isn’t ready to throw away the season just yet. I don’t have all the answers I just know losing sucks and it brings out the worst in some of our fans.That’s why youn have to play the game.GO PACK GO!!

Peter Maiz

I don’t really think the Packers are going on a winning streak all of a sudden. We will see Sunday. They are desperate to get this one win.

packers fan

Exactly I think TT will retire after this year. Do you think? No way he sticks past 2017. I could see Wolf being GM. Same with MM I think he is gone too.

Signed it, I don’t wan’t the same “brain trust” for 2017. I think MM lost the locker room.

packers fan

What name did you signed it as? It has 23 supporters and are you one of those 23? Just wondering?

packers fan

If the Packers lose to Redskins, I could only see them beating the Bears, Texans and maybe Minnesota. I mean they are going against a struggling Cardinals team and are beating them right now. And no way TT stays after this or next year since Wolf might take over. I think the Packers get rid of TT (or retire), and let Wolf decide on MM or get rid of MM. MM and TT will not remain after 2017 so I think they are gone after this year.